(599) the legend of St. Valentine

https://collinstreet.com/blog/the-history-of-valentines-day

聖バレンタイン伝説

聖バレンタイン伝説は、紀元前３世紀、皇帝クラウディウス２世が世界最強の軍隊を作ろうとしたことから始まる。未婚で父親のいない男性が最高の兵士を生み出すと考えた彼は、すべての若者の結婚を禁止した。バレンタインはこの命令の不当性に気付き、クラウディウスに逆らって若い恋人たちの結婚を秘密裏に行った。その行為が発覚すると、彼は逮捕され、斬首刑による死刑を宣告された。

牢獄で待つ間、彼は看守たちと知り合いになったが、そのうちの一人には盲目の娘がいた。バレンタインはその娘に会うと、少女の盲目を治し、その結果、彼女の家族全員がすぐに改宗した。バレンタインは処刑される前に、その少女に「バレンタインより」と署名した手紙を送り、現在のロマンチックな呼び名の基礎を築いた。

重要なのは、すべての宗教史家がこの説を信じているわけではないということだ。２番目に殉教したテニルの司教バレンタインが、この祝日の名前の由来になったという説もある。これらの記述には類似性があるため、同一人物を指しているのではないかとも考えられている。聖バレンタインの正体については、あいまいなことが多く、カトリック教会は１９６９年に聖バレンタインの典礼的崇敬を打ち切った。しかし、聖バレンタインの名前は公式の聖人リストに残っている。

www.DeepL.com/Translator(無料版)の翻訳を一部修正。

原文

The Legend of St. Valentine

The legend of St. Valentine begins in the 3rd century BC with Emperor Claudius ll's quest1) to build the world's strongest army. Believing unmarried and fatherless men created the best soldiers, he banned marriagees for all young men. Valentine realized the injustice of the decree2) and defied3) Claudius by performing marriages for yound lovers in secrest. When his actions were discovered, he was arrested and sentenced to death by beheading4).

While waiting in prison5), he became acquainted with6) his jailers7), one of whom had a blind daughter. When Valentine met the daughter, he cured the little girl of her blindness8), resulting in the immediate conversion of her entire family. Before his execution, Valentine sent the little girl a note sighed "from your Valentine," laying9) the foundation for the present-day romantic moniker10).

It's important to note that not all religious historians believe this vesion of events. Some believe a second martyred11) man, Valentine, bishop of Terni, takes credit for12) the holiday's namesake13). Because of the similarities of these accounts, it's thought they may refer to the same person. Enough confusion surrounds the true identity of St. Valentine that the Catholic Church discontinued liturgical veneration14) of him in 1969, though his name remains on its list of officially recognized saints.

1) quest: 探求、追及
2) decree: 法令、政令
3) defied: defy, を無視する
4) beheading: behead, の首を切り取る
5) in prison: 刑務所、「囚人を収監しておく」という「機能」を表すので、無冠詞。
6) became acquainted with:　と知り合った
7) jailers: 看守
8) cured the little girl of her blindness: SVO1 of O2, ＜医者・薬＞がO1<病人>のO2<病気>を治す
9) laying: ＜基礎など＞を築く
10) moniker: [mάnɪkɚ] あだ名
11) martyred: [mɑrtɝd] 殉教した
12) takes credit for: の功績を認められる
13) namesake: (ある人に)ちなんで名づけられた人（会社、地名など）
14) liturgical veneration: 典礼式的尊敬、畏敬
*

(582) Ubazakura by Lafcadio Hearn

Ubazakura by Lafcadio Hearn

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1210/1210-h/1210-h.htm#chap04

Ubazakura by Lafcadio Hearn

Translation with the help of DeepL

Three hundred years ago, in the village called Asamimura, in the district called Onsengōri, in the province of Iyō, there lived a good man named Tokubei. This Tokubei was the richest person in the district, and the muraosa, or headman, of the village. In most matters he was fortunate; but he reached the age of forty without knowing the happiness of becoming a father. Therefore he and his wife, in the affliction1) of their childlessness, addressed2) many prayers to the divinity3) Fudō Myō Ō, who had a famous temple, called Saihōji, in Asamimura. At last their prayers were heard4): the wife of Tokubei gave birth to5) a daughter. The child was very pretty; and she received the name of Tsuyu. As the mother’s milk was deficient6), a milk-nurse7), called O-Sodé, was hired for the little one. O-Tsuyu grew up to be a very beautiful girl; but at the age of fifteen she fell sick, and the doctors thought that she was going to die. In that time the nurse O-Sodé, who loved O-Tsuyu with a real mother’s love, went to the temple Saihōji, and fervently8) prayed to Fudō-Sama on behalf of the girl. Every day, for twenty-one days, she went to the temple and prayed; and at the end of that time, O-Tsuyu suddenly and completely recovered. Then there was great rejoicing9) in the house of Tokubei; and he gave a feast to all his friends in celebration of the happy event. But on the night of the feast the nurse O-Sodé was suddenly taken ill10); and on the following morning, the doctor, who had been summoned11) to attend12) her, announced that she was dying. Then the family, in great sorrow, gathered about13) her bed, to bid14) her farewell. But she said to them:— “It is time that I should tell you something which you do not know. My prayer has been heard. I besought15) Fudō-Sama that I might be permitted to die in the place of O-Tsuyu; and this great favor has been granted16) me. Therefore you must not grieve about my death... But I have one request to make. I promised Fudō-Sama that I would have a cherry-tree planted in the garden of Saihōji, for a thank-offering17) and a commemoration18). Now I shall not be able myself to plant the tree there: so I must beg that you will fulfill that vow19) for me... Good-bye, dear friends; and remember that I was happy to die for O-Tsuyu’s sake.” After the funeral of O-Sodé, a young cherry-tree,—the finest that could be found,—was planted in the garden of Saihōji by the parents of O-Tsuyu. The tree grew and flourished20); and on the sixteenth day of the second month of the following year,—the anniversary of O-Sodé’s death,—it blossomed in a wonderful way. So it continued to blossom for two hundred and fifty-four years,—always upon the sixteenth day of the second month;—and its flowers, pink and white, were like the nipples of a woman’s breasts, bedewed21) with milk. And the people called it Ubazakura, the Cherry-tree of the Milk-Nurse.

今から300年前、伊予の国の温泉郷にある浅見村という村に、徳兵衛という善人が住んでいた。この徳兵衛は、この地方で最も裕福な人で、村の村長（庄屋）であった。ほとんどのことで、恵まれていた、しかし、父になる幸せを知らずに40歳を迎えてしまった。そのため、浅見村に西方寺という名刹(めいせつ)の不動明王に、夫婦で子宝に恵まれない苦悩1)を訴え、祈願を重ねた。 2) address: 捧げる 3) divinity: 神、超人的な力 　ついに祈りが通じた4)のか、徳兵衛の妻は娘を産んだ5)。その子はとても可愛く、露と名付けられた。母乳の出が悪いため6)、お袖という乳母7)がその子のために雇われた。 　お露はとても美しい娘に育ったが、15歳の時に病に倒れ、医師はこのまま死んでしまうと思った。その時、お露を心から愛していた乳母のお袖は、西方寺に行き、お露のために熱心に8）不動尊に祈った。21日間、毎日、西方寺に通い、祈り続けた結果、お露は突然、完治した。 　すると徳兵衛の家では大喜び9)し、友人たちに祝宴を開いて祝った。しかし、その宴の夜、乳母のお袖が急病になり10)、翌朝、呼ばれて11)看護していた12) 医師が乳母の死期が迫っていると告げた。 　その時、家族は悲しみのあまり、彼女の枕元に集まって13)別れを告げよう14)とした。しかし、彼女は彼らに言った。 「そろそろ、あなた方の知らないことをお話ししなければなりません。私の祈りは聞き届けられました。わたしがお露の身代わりになって死ぬことをお許しくださいと、お不動さまにお願いしました15)。そして私の願いは許されました16)。だから、私の死を悲しむことはありません...。しかし、一つだけお願いがあります。私は不動尊に、西方寺の庭に桜の木を植えて、お礼と17)記念に18)することを約束しました。今、私はその桜の木を植えることができませんので、どうか私の代わりにその誓い19)を果たしてください。さようなら、大切な皆さま。私がお露のために死ぬことができて幸せだったことを忘れないでください。」 16) grant: 承諾    [許可]する S grant O2 O1➜O2にO1を承諾する。 お袖の葬儀の後、お露の両親が西方寺の庭に、とても立派な桜の若木を植えた。その木は成長して生い茂った20)。そして、翌年の二月十六日、お袖の命日に見事な花を咲かせた。そして、その花は二百五十四年間咲き続け、いつも二月の十六日に咲いていた。その花はピンクと白の2色で、まるで乳のにじむ21)女性の乳首のようであった。人々はこれをウバザクラ（乳母桜）と呼んだ。

 

1) affliction: 苦痛、苦悩
2) address: 捧げる
3) divinity: 神、超人的な力
4) prayers were heard: 祈りが届いた
5) gave birth to: 子を産む
6) deficient: 不足した、欠けている
7) milk-nurse: 乳母
8) fervently: 熱烈に
9) rejoicing: 喜び、歓喜
10) was suddenly taken ill
11) summon: 呼びつける、･･･するように命じる
12) attend: 看護する、診療する。
13) gather about: [･･･の周りに]集まる
14) bid: <あいさつなど>を<人>に述べる、言う
15) besought: beseech ･･･を嘆願する、懇願する。
16) grant: 承諾    [許可]する
17) thank-offering: （神への）感謝の捧げ物
18) commemoration: 記念物
19) vow: （神に対しての）誓い、誓約
20) flourish: <植物が>繁茂する
21) bedew: ･･･をぬらす
*

(563) Nocturnal leg cramps

  I read a study about nocturnal leg cramps, which was done by University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen University the Netherlands. The answer to this question, "Does stretching before sleep reduces the frequency and severity of nocturnal leg cramps in older adults?" was yes. Nightly stretching before going to sleep reduces the frequency and severity of nocturnal leg cramps in older adults.

Stretches used in the experimental group; (a) calf stretch in standing, (b) hamstring stretch in standing, (c) hamstring and calf stretch in sitting.

  I tried stretches before sleep, but I did Makkouhou　（真向法） stretching instead. I did it for less than 3 minutes.

So far, I have done these stretches before sleep for about a week. It works, I think.

Introduction

Nocturnal leg cramps are suddenly occurring, episodic1), painful, sustained, involuntary muscle contractions of the calf muscles, hamstrings2), or foot muscles. During the cramp, the involved muscles are tender and hard on palpation3). The pain that occurs with these contractions is sharp and intense and may last from seconds to several minutes. Although they are otherwise benign4), nocturnal leg cramps can cause substantial5) distress6) and can disrupt7) sleep. In 20% of people who experience nocturnal leg cramps, cramps also occur during the daytime (Monderer et al 2010). The cramps sometimes occur in episodes a few days a week, during which they repeat themselves (Kanaan and Sawaya, 2001, Stewart et al 1993, Mondere et al 2010). Although the insults8) generally persist for no longer than ten minutes, in exceptional situations they can continue for several hours. In approximately 2% of cases, nocturnal leg cramps occur weekly (Abkulla et al 1999). Nocturnal leg cramps occur more commonly with advancing age, affecting between 38% and 50% of the elderly (Butler et al 2002, Abulla et al 1999, Sotag and Wanner, 1988). Nocturnal leg cramps are more prevalent9) among women and among people with comobidities10), especially those with neurological11) and cardiovascular12) diseases (Butler et al 2002, Stewart et al 1993).
1) episodic: 時折起こる
2) hamstring: 人間のひざの後ろの腱
3) palpation: 触診
4) benign: [bɪnάɪn] 良性の
5) substantial: plentiful　相当な
6) distress: suffering 苦悩
7) disrupt: 中断する
8) insults: 発作
9) prevalent: はやっている
10) comorbidity: 共存症
11) neurological: 神経性の
12) cardiovascular: 循環器系の

Stretching before sleep reduces the frequency and severity of nocturnal leg cramps in older adults. A randomized trial

Question
In adults who experience nocturnal leg cramps, does stretching of the calf and hamstring muscles each day just before sleep reduce the frequency and severity of the cramps?

Design
A randomised trial with concealed13) allocation14) and intention-to-treat analysis15). 
13) concealed: 隠した
14) allocation: 割り当て、配置
15) intention-to-treat: ITT分析、包括解析

Participants
Eighty adults aged over 55 years with nocturnal leg cramps who were not being treated with quinine16).
16) quinine: kwάɪnɑɪn(米国英語), kwɪníːn(英国英語)、キニーネ剤（マラリア特効薬）

Intervention17)
The experimental group performed stretches of the calf and hamstring muscles nightly, immediately before going to sleep, for six weeks. The control group18) performed no specific stretching exercises. Both groups continued other usual activities.
17) intervention: 治療介入
18) control group: 操作を加えないままにしてあるグループ

Outcome measures
Participants recorded the frequency of nocturnal leg cramps in a daily diary. Participants also recorded the severity of the pain associated with nocturnal leg cramps on a 10-cm visual analogue scale. Adverse events were also recorded.

Results
All participants completed the study. At six weeks, the frequency of nocturnal leg cramps decreased significantly more in the experimental group, mean difference 1.2 cramps per night, (95% CI19) 0.6 to 1.8). The severity of the nocturnal leg cramps had also decreased significantly more in the experimental group than in the control group, mean difference20) 1.3 cm (95% CI 0.9 to 1.7) on the 10-cm visual analogue scale.
19) 95% CI: 95%confidence interval 95%信頼区間20) mean difference: 治療群の数値の平均値とコントロール群の数値の平均値の差

Conclusion
Nightly stretching before going to sleep reduces the frequency and severity of nocturnal leg cramps in older adults.
Trial registration
NCT01421628
*

(547) 9/11 in 2001

  I bought this newspaper, the daily Yomiuri in the early morning at a convenience store after a night shift. It was twenty years ago!

THE DAILY YOMIURI

WEDNSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2001
2 planes crash into World Trade Center

1 tower collapses; plane plows into1) Pentagon; "White House evacuated2)

Compiled from news services
  NEW YORKーPlanes crashed into the upper floors of both World Trade Center towers minutes apart Tuesday in a horrific3) scene of explosions and fires that razed4) one of the 110-story towers and left gaping5) holes in the other.
1) plow into: ･･･と衝突する、to move forcefully into or through something
2) evacuate: 避難させる、to remove especially from a dangerous area
3) horrific: ぞっとする
4) raze: ･･･を倒壊させる、to destroy to the ground
5) gap: すき間ができる、to fall or stand open

  There was no immediate word on injuries or fatalities6) in the twin disasters, which happened shortly before 9 a.m. and then right around 9 a.m.
6) fatality: 死亡者

  Palestinian DFLP7) claimed responsibilities for8) the attack, according to Abu Dhabi TV.
  President George W. Bush said Tuesday that the crashes were "an apparent terrorist attack on9) our country."
7) DFLP: Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, パレスチナ解放民主戦線
8) claim responsibility for: 犯行声明を出す、to assert to be rightfully one's own
9) attack on: （武力による）攻撃、襲撃

  A somber10) Bush told an audience in Sarasota, Florida, gathered to hear an address on education that "this is a difficult moment for America." He said he would be returning immediately to Washington.
10) somber: 深刻な、暗たんたる、of a dismal or depressing character

  "Today we've had a national tragedy," Bush said. "Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country."
  In Washington, officials said the FBI was investigating reports of a plane hijacking11) before the crashes.
11) hijack: ハイジャックする、to commandeer (a flying airplane) especially by coercing the pilot at gunpoint

  A sinor government official, speaking on condition of anonymmity12), said the agency is pursuing reports that one or both of the planes were hijacked and that the crashes my have been the result of suicide mission13).
12) on condition of anonymity: 匿名を条件に
13) suicide mission: 自爆任務、killing or injuring others while annihilating yourself

  The source stressed that the reports are preliminary14) and officials do not know the cause of the crashes.
14) preliminary: 予備の、準備の、coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else

  "It certainly doesn't look like an accident," said a second government official, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
  The towers were struck by bombers15) in February 1993.
15) bomber: 爆撃機

  "The plane was coming in low and ... it looked like it hit at a slight angle16)," said Sean Murtagh, a CNN vice president, the network reported.
16) at a slight angle: わずかな角度で

  Large holes were visible in side of the 110-story buildings, landmark17) twin towers.
17) landmark: a structure (such as a building) of unusual historical and usually aesthetic interest

  "I was watching TV. and heard a sonic boom18) ... ," witness Jeanne Yurman told CNN. "The side of the world trade center exploded. Debris19) is falling like leaflets20). I hear ambulances. The northern tower seems to be on fire21)."
18) a sonic boom: 衝撃音波
19) debris: 瓦礫、remains of something destroyed
20) leaflet: pamphlet
21) be on fire: 燃えている

  The tops of the twin towers were obscured22) by the smoke.
22) obscure: 不明瞭な、dim and hazy

  Thousands of pieces of what appeared to be office paper came drifting23) over Brooklyn, about three miles (48 kilometers) from the tower, one witness said.
23) come drifting: 吹き積る

  The center bombing on Feb. 26, 1993, killing six people and injured more than 1,000 others.
  In 1945, an Army Air Corps B-25, a twin-engine bomber, crashed into the 76th floor of the Empire State Building in dense fog.
  A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that agency is pursuing reports that one or both of the planes were hijacked and that the crashes may have been the result of a suicide mission.
  The source stressed that the reports are preliminary and officials do not know the cause of the crashes.
  "It certainly doesn't look like an accident," said a second government official, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
  Asked what he knew about the planes, Bush replied, "I'll talk about it later."
  The New York Stock Exchange, located in lower Manhattan near the trade center where many financial offices are kept, indefinitely24) suspended trading.
24) indefinitely: 不明確に、 not defining or identifying

Left: An aircraft at right about to fly into the World Trade Center in New York in this image made from television Tuesday. The aircraft was the second to fly into the tower Tuesday morning.
Right: Smoke and fire pour from the upper floors of World Trade Center in New York city after the second airplane hit the tower.

Pentagon evacuated
WASHINGTON ー The Pentagon was evacuated Tuesday after a plane crashed into the building, following an apparent terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, officials said.
  Pentagon officials ordered employees out of the building just outside Washington.
  The West Wing of the White House was also evacuated amid terrorist threats.

Official Visitor Map 2015

65: 9/11 Memorial & Museum

66: 9/11 Tribute Center
The 9/11 Tribute Museum, formerly known as the 9/11 Tribute Center and Tribute WTC

*

(545) Twenty Months in Japan / 1. Pacific Royal steamship "Empress of Japan"

TWENTY MONTHS IN JAPAN （松山　明治２５年～２７年、1892～1894）
/ by Henry G. Hawkins, Publishing House of the M.E. Church, South / 86p., 19 cm
In 1892 he became an English instructor in the Japanese Government Middle School at Matsuyama (松山尋常中学校), after which he wrote a booklet titled "Twenty Months in Japan.

Name: Empress of Japan
Owner: Canadian Pacific Steamship Company
Years of service: 1890 - 1922
Type: Ocean liner
Tonnage: 5,905 tons
Length: 456 ft (139 m)
Beam: 51 ft (16 m)
Propulsion: twin propellers
Speed: 16 knots
Capacity: 160 1st passengers
              40 2nd class
              Up to 700-sterage passengers

1. PACIFIC ROYAL STEAMSHIP "EMPRESS OF JAPAN"

On Ocean, July 9.

  The Empress of Japan is a floating palace to a passenger with a first-class ticket. The dining room is for the rich viands1) and occasional concert; the library for reading, writing, or lounging2); the deck for sitting and gazing at the sunset, or walking and talking with companions from the ends of the earth. The smoking room and card table have a place3). But if the passenger be in his berth4) asleep midnight, perhaps the great foghorn5) will awake and remind him him that he is at the mercy of6) the waves and the mariner7). Excepting the servants, and a gambling lot of Chinese passengers in their end of the ship, nearly all on board are English-speaking people, chiefly from London and New York. Few children are along. I have made the acquaintance of 8) one little boy whose father is a customhouse official9) at Shanghai. He has been in Ireland a year, and went to school there a little. His talk, in the main, is about fine sleeping cars of America and the great band stand10) at Shanghai.
1) viands: piece of food
2) lounge: ゆったりと横になる
3) have a place: ･･･のための場所がある
4) berth: a place to sit or sleep especially on a ship or vehicle, 寝台
5) fog horn: warning horn sounded in a fog, 霧笛
6) at the mercy of: ･･･のなすがままに（なって）
7) mariner: 水夫
8) make the acquaintance of: ･･･と知り合いになる
9) customhouse official: 税関の役人
10) band stand: 野外ステージ

  This evening for tomorrow morning I expect to see land for the first time in twelve days. We will be at Yokohama twenty-four hours, then go by the same steamer to Kobe, remaining there for passports. It is turning warm fast. Excepting two or three days spent about Vancouver, the weather has required overcoats for the open air ever since leaving Winnipeg, until yesterday. At Victoria the ship stopped on night: since then, the sailing has been uninterrupted at the rate of nearly fifteen miles an hour. The sights have been a few whales spouting12) in the distance; two far-off vessels on the Bering Sea, thought to be provision13) carries; a few sea gulls searching for any food that may fall from the ship; several dense fogs, requiring a horn to be blown about every five minutes; many clouds; an occasional sun or moon, revealing a vast expanse of water, most of the time greatly waving, and last Sunday tossing the ship from side to side, so that the captain ordered, "No services14)." He had prviously arranged for a Rev. Dr. Vincent, M.A.15), LL. D.16), to read the service a la Anglaise17), and for Bishop Key to preach.
11) far-off: 遠くの
12) provision: 食料
13) service: 集会礼拝
14) M.A.: Master of Arts. 文学修士
15) LLD: Legum Doctor(=Doctor of Laws)法学博士
16) a la Anglaise: 音節à l'an • glaise 発音ɑː lɑːŋɡléiz, æ　英国流の

　今晩か明日の朝、１２日ぶりに陸地を見ることになる。私たちは横浜に２４時間滞在し、それから同じ蒸気船で神戸へ友行き、パスポートを受け取るため、そこに留まる。急に暑くなってきた。バンクーバーあたりで過ごした２，３日を除いて、ウィニペグをでてから昨日まで、屋外ではオーバーコートが必要な天候だった。ビクトリアで船は一晩停泊した。それ以来、時速１５マイル（２７．８㎞）近くの速度で進み、航海が中断されることなはなかった。数頭のクジラが遠くで、潮を噴き上げている光景にあったり、ベーリング海には、２隻の食料運搬船と思われる船が遠くに見えたり、船から投げ捨てられる食べ物を数羽のカモメが狙っているのを目撃した、幾度か濃い霧にあったときは、約５分ごとに警笛を鳴らす必要があった、多くの雲に覆われる中；時折現れる太陽や月に、広大な海原が現れ、ほとんどの場合大きく波に揺られていたが、先週の日曜日には、波は船を左右に激しく揺さぶり、ついに、船長は「集会礼拝は中止せよ」と命じた。彼は事前に、ヴィンセント牧師、博士、M.A.(文学修士)、LL.D（法学博士）には英国流の礼拝を、そしてキー主教には説教をするように取り決めていた。

  Besides some lighter amusement, there is every afternoon upon the outer deck a game of cricket17) the ball being kept in by netting. Chinamen are the servants; Englishmen form the crew. The boss cook is a Frenchman. A glance at the luncheon lists printed daily will give an idea of the sumptuous18) fare19). Last night there was given, by some of the passengers and chief officers, a concert. The mostly20) throng21) of Chinamen, with their long hair, chopsticks, and intense gambling, are a sight22).
17) a game of cricket: クリケットの試合
18) sumptuous: 豪華な
19) fare: （食卓に出された）食物
20) mostly: 主に、主として
21) throng: 人だかり、大勢；多数
22) a sight: 見もの；物笑い（の種）、ひどい有様だ。
　幾つかのささやかな娯楽に加えて、午後になるといつも、屋外ではクリケットのゲームが行われた、ボールはネットで外へ飛び出さないようになっている。中国人は使用人として働いている。乗組員を構成しているのはイギリス人だった。料理長はフランス人である。毎日印刷される昼食会のリストを一目見れば、豪華な料理のことがわかった。昨夜、一部の乗客と一等航海士達によってコンサートが開かれた。長い髪（辮髪）、箸、夢中になって賭け事をしている、主に中国人の人だかりは見ものである。

(Even now, a game of cricket on sea seems to be very popular.)

  Save threatened seasickness once or twice, my health has been good. We have a fine, large, well-managed ship, with many of the conveniences of modern civilized life; but I cannot say that I like water travel as well as land. The tossing in not pleasant. We have not had much of it, but one lady gave up the second day, and has not been of23) her state-room24) since. They say that every ship has a peculiar odor; and I thought they are scrubbing and painting in25) this one all the time, it has in same places a very distinct odor that certainly cannot be counted26) among the luxurious of travel.
23) be of; ～の出
24) state-room: (客船、列車の) 個室、特別室
25) paint in: を書き[描き] 加える
26) count: を･･･と考える、思う
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タグ：Twenty months in Japan

(541) Twenty months in Japan / Nanamagari

Twenty months in Japan (Published in 1901 by H. G. Hawkins)

Biography
Henry Gabriel Hawkins was born on October 5, 1866, in Choctaw County Alabama. In 1892 he became an English instructor in the Japanese Government Middle School at Matsuyama(松山尋常中学校), after which he wrote a booklet titled "Twenty Months in Japan."

Walking to the castle

･･････ You can see that the mountain originally had two peaks. We walk over this terrace, whose best service at present is to supply the ground for the keeper's little farm. There is a corner building where were kept the paraphernalia of worship. (9 天神櫓 Tenjin-yagura turret) Two more gates, and then the inner-most yard appears, surrounded by the central building, or castle proper. (8 三の門 Third gate ➜ 10 筋金門 Sujigane-mon gate ➜ inner-most yard) 


  The principal hall upon the ground floor (Cellar のことかな？) is where the occupants were to go and kill themselves in case of defeat, coming down by means of a rude elevator (明治時代は米蔵から一階への階段はついていなかったか？) from the halls above. You may ascend to those halls by a stairway in another part of the structure; (Entrance Hallのことかな？) and from the height reached you may look at the surrounding city, the sea, islands, fields, distant villages, and mountains.  There is the road to the sea, with seven abrupt turns (七曲りNanamagari) made it, so that the number of the enemy coming could be very well judged from the way they filled these parts of the road.

http://haisentn.blog41.fc2.com/blog-entry-59.html

昭和７年鉄道補入「松山北部」(1:25,000地形図)

現在
　　Kato Yashiakira, (嘉明 Yoshiakira) who had been general under Hideyoshi, the Napoleon of Japan, founded the castle about three hundred years ago. It was rebuilt forty-nine years ago, (1854年にrebuiltだから49年プラスで1903, Hawkinsは1892に在松山なので、ちょっと合わない？) and of the original wooden portion only the first great gateway remains. (筒井門 Tsusui-mon gateのことかな？)

  There is nothing fine in the structure; but considering the great quantities of granite1) used, the cost must have been a million dollars. It is not in service at all at present. Though a regiment2) of soldiers located here now have modernized barracks at the mountain base, the deserted condition of the castle, and the sight of piles of sharp swords and spears begging for purchasers as one passes in front of the numerous second-hand shops, make us believe that the world is going toward the fulfillment of Isaiah's words; "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."3)

1) granite: 花崗岩、御影石
2) regiment: 連隊、 a millitary unit consisting usually of a number of battalions
3) Isaiah 2:4 New Living Translation:
The Lord will meditate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.
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タグ：Twenty months in Japan

(538) The Aizu castle siege

Aizu castle just after surrender. From Wikipedia.

The History of Modern Japanese Education: Constructing the National School System, 1872-1890

• 作者: Duke, Benjamin
• 出版社/メーカー: Rutgers Univ Pr
• 発売日: 2014/03/14
• メディア: ペーパーバック

The History of Modern Japanese Education / The Modern Education of Japanese Girls
Sutematsu's personal account of the Aizu castle siege.
  We women and children were divided into bands1) of workers, those who washed and cooked the rice, those who did the housework, and those who made the ammunition2) for the men at the front. I was too young to be trusted with the making of cartridges3), so the work alloted me was to bring the leaden balls4) from the storehouses, and after they had been made up into cartridges to carry them back to another storehouse, whence5) they were sent to the men..... The last month of the siege, the imperial troops planted guns on the hills around us, and not a day passed when cannon-balls did not whiz6) over our heads, dropping into the castle and crushing into the keep7) itself. It was then part of my work to roll them together in piles, out of the way. My mother, sister, sister-in-law and I expected death at any minute but none of us liked the idea of being mutilated instead of killed outright8). So we made our mother promise that if any of us should be mortally wounded she wounded she would cut off our heads in true samurai fashion. A few days after this, while we were snatching9) a mouthful of food, a shell10) fell into the room, and bursting, wounded my sister-in-law in the breast and me in the neck. My wound was nothing to speak of, and I was up and at work again at the end of the week. It was different with my sister-in-law. We saw that she must die.... Strange as it may seem, my future husband was one of the attacking forces and was swounded during the night assault. Little did I dream that I should be the wife of one of the enemies whose cannon-balls I so carefully rolled into heaps. 

1) bands: a group of people who do something together or have the same ideas
2) ammunition: objects that can be shot from a weapon, such as bullets or bombs
3) cartridges: a case of containing an explosive charge for blasting
4) leaden balls: balls made of lead
5) whence: from or out of which place, source, or cause

6) whiz: to move very quickly, often making a high continuous sound
7) keep: the strongest and securest part of a medieval castle
8) outright: immediately
9) snatch: to take or have something quickly using the only time or chance that you have
10) shell: a projectile for cannon containing an explosive bursting charge

　私たち女性と子供たちは、ご飯を洗って炊く人、家事をする人、そして前線の男性のために弾薬を作る人の集団にわけられました。私は若すぎて弾薬筒の製造をまかすことができなかったので、私に割り当てられた仕事は、倉庫から鉛の砲弾を持ち帰り、弾薬筒に組み立てられた後、別の倉庫に持ち帰ることでした、そこからそれらは男性へ運ばれました...　包囲の最後の月には、官軍は私たちの周りの丘に大砲を据え付けました、そして大砲の砲弾が私たちの頭上を音を立てて飛び交わない日はなく、城に落ちて天守閣自体を砕かない日は一日もありませんでした。そのとき、邪魔にならないようそれらを転がして積み重ねることが私の仕事の一部でした。私の母、姉、義理の姉、そして私はいつでも死ぬことを覚悟していましたが、私たちのうち誰も即死ではなく、手足を切断され生き絶え絶えの状態になることは受け入れることができませんでした。それで、私たちの誰かが致命傷を負った場合、母親が真の侍のやり方で私たちの頭を切り落とすことを約束してもらいました。この数日後、私たちが一口ほどの食べ物を急いでとっていると、一個の砲弾が部屋に落ちて破裂し、義理の姉は胸を、私は首を負傷しました。私の傷は何ということはなく、私は週末には起きて再び仕事をしていました。義理の姉の傷は違っていました。私たちはわかっていました、彼女は死んでしまうと…　奇妙に思われるかもしれませんが、私の未来の夫は城攻撃部隊の一人であり、夜の襲撃中に負傷しました。敵の大砲の砲弾を注意深く転がして山積みにしていた私が、その敵の一人の妻になるとは夢にも思っていませんでした。

Who is Sutematsu?
  At the time of the castle siege11) in 1868, Sutematsu was eight years old. Her personal account12) of the episode, recollected13) as an adult in Japan and composed in English, sgands as tribute14) to her courage as well as the education she received in the United States. It is surely the only recorded account originally in English by a Japanese who was on the scene of a castle siege in feudal Japan.
11) siege: a situation in which an army surrounds a town for a long time so that nobody can get in or out
12) account: somebody's report or description of something that has happened
13) recollect: to remember something especially  by making an effort
14) tribute: something that you say or do to show that you respect or admire somebody/something, especially somebody who has died

  1868年の城包囲の時、捨松（ステマツ）は8歳でした。日本で大人として回想され、英語で書かれた彼女のエピソードの個人的な記録は、彼女の勇気と米国で受けた教育への賛辞となりました。封建時代の日本で包囲された城の現場にいた日本人が最初から英語で記録した唯一の記録であることは間違いありません。

新政府の米国留学女学生　左から、永井しげ（１０）、上田てい（１６）、吉益りょう（１６）、津田うめ（９）、山川捨松（１２）。明治４年。姓名はいずれも当時のもの、数字は数え歳 From left, Nagai Shige (10), Ueda Tei (16), Yshimasu Ryo (16), Tsuda Ume (9), Yamakawa Sutematsu (12), in 1871.

Why did Sutematsu receive education in the United States?
  In 1871 Sutematsu's brother Hiroshi, responsible for the family and the Aizu clan in exile, learned of Kuroda's plan to send young girls abroad for a modern education to promote the development of Hokkaido. Apparently concerned over the future of his sister, Hiroshi submitted an application to the Frontier Bureau on behalf of Sutematsu. With only five applicants, the bureau approved Sutematsu's candidacy along with the other four. The girls departed with the Iwakura Mission on December 21, 1871, on the steamer America amid a colorful ceremony with a fanfare of gun salvos.
外輪船、Paddle-wheel steamer

　１８７１年、家族と、追放された会津藩のために、捨松の兄、浩（ひろし）は、北海道の発展を促進するための近代教育のために若い女子を海外へ派遣するという黒田の計画を知りました。妹の将来をほんとうに心配していた浩は、捨松の代わりに開拓局へ申請書を提出した。申請者は５人だけで、開拓局は他の４人と共に捨松の立候補を承認した。少女たちは１８７１年１２月２１日、大砲の一斉射撃のファンファーレを伴う色とりどりの式典の中で、汽船アメリカ丸で岩倉使節団と共に出発しました。
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(505) Handmade puzzles at home

  This puzzle was invented by the American Sam Loyd in 1898. It was printed on two pieces of card and sold more than 10 million copies.

You'll find when the discs are set one way there are 13 characters, but when they move, one of the people disappears!
http://www.murderousmaths.co.uk/games/getofftheearth.htm 

Ⅰ. There are 13 Chinese Swordsmen in this picture around the earth.

Ⅱ. A small disk and a large disk can rotate separately.
The earth (a small disk) rotates anti-clockwise a litter, so each character’s parts are separated.    

Ⅲ. The earth disk stops at 30 degrees rotated position.
Each swordsman’s parts meet together and we can see 12 complete swordsmen. Wow! One swordsman disappears.

I found this picture on the internet. Then I made “Get off the earth” puzzles myself by using several rotating mechanisms.

http://www.tokyomagic.jp/labyrinth/kiga/tanoshii-zukei-puzzle-01.htm
SAM LOYD the famous inventor of puzzles, often referred to as the most expert mechanic living, is the author of this wonderful “Get Off the Earth “ Puzzle. In a recent letter to the press Mr. Loyd says: “This puzzle may strike the average mortal1) as being a “bland2) and childlike” toy. Nevertheless, just for my own satisfaction, I offer six first class Bicycles to such as3) send the best answers to the mystery during the present year. I select the Columbia Bicycles, because from a mechanical and engineering stand point I consider them superior to all other.
Sam Loyd, P.O.Box 1821, New York.
The Sam Loyd Get Off The Earth Puzzle

1) mortal : a human being　人間
2) bland : tasteless 平凡な
3) such as : 〜してくれる人達

此人時常到佢要来収銀　（This person often comes to collect cash.）
此人出去了佢係欠你銀　（This person went out to owe you money.） 

Here are my handmade “Get Off The Earth” puzzles.

By using a shallow, round and disposable lunchbox of sushi.

By using music CDs and its case.

By using a music CD case.

By using laminated sheets.

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(504) Pasta at home

My Farfalle Cacio e Pepe

Canestri1) Cacio e Pepe2) Recipe

1) canestri : canestri : a traditional Italian pasta shape that sort of looks like a little basket. 

anestri basil garlic tomato

2) cacio e pepe : "cheese and pepper" in Italian

 (serve 4 as a ,main course. 6 as an appetizer)
Tools: a large pan wide enough to hold the pasta, a small pan, and tongs3)
3) tongs : grasping device of 2 joined or hinged pieces 

Ingredients

1 lb4) dried canestri or lumache5) pasta
(feel free to substitute shells, bowties6), or other short pasta shapes in you pantry7))

1 1/3 table spoon freshly ground black pepper – not too fine!

10 tablespoon unsalted butter, split in half evenly

2 cups freshly ground grana padano8) or high quality parmesan9) cheese

3 cups pasta water10)

4) lb : 0.45 kilograms
5) lumache : Lumac(h)oni are a type of snail-shaped Italian pasta. Larger than pipe (brand: Panzani). 

6) bowties pasta : farfalle / farfalle are a type of ribbon-cut, folded pasta

7) pantry : storage room for food and dishes, 食料品室、食器室
8) grana padano : Grana Padano is a cheese originating in the Po river Valley in northern Italy, hard, crumbly-textured cheese.
9) parmesan : parmesan cheese / Parmesan産の味が濃い固いチーズ
10) pasta water : パスタのゆで汁

Method

Bring 4 quarts11) water to a boil12). Season with salt; add pasta and cook stirring occasionally, until about 1 minute before tender. Drain, reserving 3 cups pasta cooking water. You don’t want to pull13) the pasta water too early! Wait until the pasta is ready, as it will ensure the water’s maximum starchiness14). The starches in the pasta water will ultimately stabilize the emulsification15) between the cheese and butter, which creates magic.

11) quarts : 0.95 liters
12) boil : bring water to a boil / 水を沸騰させる
13) pull : to come into possession of
14) starchiness : nourishing carbohydrate from plants also used in adhesives and laundering / デンプン
15) emulsification : converting into an emulsion / 乳化 

Meanwhile, toast black pepper in a large heavy DRY skillet16) over medium heat. Swirl17) pan frequently, until pepper is toasted, about 45 seconds to 1 minute. You will know the pepper is sufficiently toasted when the aroma of black pepper fills your kitchen. Watch out for the sneezes!

16) skillet : pan for frying
17) swirl : to move swiftly in circles, eddies, or undulations

Add 5 tablespoons of butter to the pan with the pepper. It will quickly melt. Working fast to avoid burning the butter, add 2.5 cups reserved pasta water to skillet and bring to a rapid simmer18). Please be careful when you add the pasta water to the pan, as it may splatter a bit – it will burn you! Reduce volume by almost half (this will take a couple of minutes), then add pasta. Cook pasta for the remaining minute, reduce heat to very low and quickly add remaining 5 tablespoons of butter and the cheese, stirring and tossing19) vigorously with tongs until cheese is melted.

18) simmer : 煮詰め /bring to a rapid simmer急速に煮る
19) tossing : toss/ move to and fro or up and down 

Remove pan from heat and continue tossing until the sauce is smooth, emulsified, and coats the pasta. (Add some of the remaining 0.5 cups pasta water if sauce seems dry.) Transfer to a large bowl, garnish20) with more cheese if desired and enjoy.

20) garnish : add decoration to (as food) /＜料理＞に[・・・を]添える[with]
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(503) 原文Rebus / The Hunter and The Squirrel.

 I happened to know of Sam Loyd (1841 – 1911) from a book named Encyclopedia of mathematical Magic数学マジック辞典. He is well know for Chess, puzzles, mathematical games. Here is one of his puzzles on the internet. This is a rebus, a riddle representing syllables or words with pictures. I redraw this picture from his original one.

http://www.jwstelly.org/CyclopediaOfPuzzles/PuzzlePage.php?puzzleid=Pz61.2#Pz61.2

 

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The Hunter and The Squirrel.

Here is the old problem of the hunter who saw a squirrel on a tree and tries to get a good shot at it, but the squirrel cleverly manages to keep always on the opposite side. The hunter, as shown by the tracks in the snow, has gone around the tree so as to make a complete circle, but the squirrel has also gone around the tree, keeping on the opposite side, and we wish to know has the hunter walked around the squirrel? I give the problem because puzzlists1) from all parts of the world have asked me to give my answer to the problem.
(1) puzzlist / One who enjoys creating or solving puzzles

A thousand and one2) subtle arguments have been offered to prove that the man does not go around the squirrel, principally based upon Webster’s definition that around is, on all sides of; encircling, encompassing.
2) a thousand and one / A great many; numerous.

I claim that the man has most positively gone around the squirrel, just as the rim of a wheel goes around the hub which turns on the axle; just as the earth goes around the sun, which has a lesser orbit proportional to their difference in weight.

I remember going all around a field once, but a cross dog faced me all the time so I could not reach the apple tree; but I went all around that field and all that3) was in it. I wished at the time that I was big enough to take that dog by the tail and swing him around, but perhaps some philosopher would tell me that the dog was not being swung around, because he always had the same end toward me.
3) and all that /…やら何やら, (および)…など.

One of the same professors who maintain4) it is impossible to go around the earth unless the earth stops turning, places implicit5) faith in the old snake story. He says a snake can always swallow a snake of its same size; he once placed two four foot snakes together in a cage, and each seized the others tail and began to swallow it at the same time, so they both disappeared simultaneously. He asked Sammy to illustrate it upon the blackboard, and Sammy, who was quite a little artist, drew the following picture:

4) maintain / to uphold as true, right, proper, or acceptable often in the face of challenge or indifference
5) implicit / complete and unquestioning

Answer

Sammy’s Rebus in the story of the hunter and the squirrel say: “No body believes a liar.”

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